Information providing system, information receiving terminal, information providing apparatus, information providing method and program

ABSTRACT

An information receiving terminal includes a designation information transmitting portion to transmit designation information designating a program and a related information receiving portion. The information providing apparatus includes a related information storage portion to store related information containing a plurality of information to which each provision period is settable in association with a program, a designation information receiving portion, a related information extracting portion to extract the related information appropriate for a designated program, and a related information transmitting portion to transmit the extracted related information. The information receiving terminal or the information providing apparatus includes an information selecting portion to select information to which a provision period corresponding to a provision time point of the related information is set from a plurality of information constituting the received/extracted related information as information constituting the related information. An information providing system effectively providing program-related information is provided.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention contains subject matter related to Japanese PatentApplication JP 2007-194837 filed in the Japan Patent Office on Jul. 26,2007, the entire contents of which being incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information providing system, aninformation receiving terminal, an information providing apparatus, aninformation providing method and program.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, a system in which content (program) providers transmitvideo/audio information concerning a program, and a user receives,displays and plays back the video/audio information using an informationreceiving terminal and views the video/audio information has beenwidespread. In such an information providing system, information relatedto a program is transmitted together with the video/audio information. Auser thereby receives related information in addition to video/audioinformation of a program, so that the user can browse the relatedinformation while viewing the program.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7-321748 discloses aVideo-On-Demand (VOD) system which allows browsing of detail informationconcerning the object that is displayed on the screen of the programcurrently on air (e.g. a product, ornament, clothes, shoes, furnitureand house of a program providing/sponsoring maker etc.). In the VODsystem, video information of a program and detail information concerningthe program (which is an example of related information) are accumulatedin a VOD provider, and the video information and the related informationare distributed to a VOD receiver in response to a request from a user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an information providing system of a related art, however, relatedinformation of a program which is scheduled for a time period that isnot currently viewable is not provided to a user while viewing atime-scheduled program. Further, in an information providing system of arelated art such as the above-described VOD system, for example, relatedinformation which is transmitted together with video information of aprogram is provided as fixed information that is associated with theprogram. Furthermore, in an information providing system of a relatedart, operation information which is provided to a user for operationregarding related information can differ from provider to provider thatprovides each related information.

Therefore, a user cannot browse the related information of a programwhich is scheduled for a time period that is not currently viewable.Further, because the related information is provided as fixedinformation, a user cannot browse timely appropriate relatedinformation, such as information that introduces a program, according tothe temporal relationship between the scheduled date and time (provisiondate and time) of a program and the provision date and time of relatedinformation. Furthermore, if operation information regarding relatedinformation differs from provider to provider, a user cannot performoperation regarding related information efficiently because complicatedoperation is required.

On the other hand, a content provider cannot provide the relatedinformation of a program which is scheduled for a time period that isnot currently viewable. Further, because the related information isprovided as fixed information, a content provider cannot provide timelyappropriate related information, such as information that introduces aprogram, according to the temporal relationship between the provisiondate and time of a program and the provision date and time of relatedinformation. Furthermore, if operation information regarding relatedinformation differs from provider to provider, a content provider cannotprompt a user to perform operation regarding related informationefficiently.

In light of the foregoing, it is desirable to provide an informationproviding system, an information receiving terminal, an informationproviding apparatus, an information providing method and program whichare capable of providing program-related information efficiently.

According to a first embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided an information providing system where an information receivingterminal for receiving a program and an information providing apparatusfor providing related information associated with a program areconnected through a communication network. In the information providingsystem, the information receiving terminal includes a designationinformation transmitting portion to transmit designation informationdesignating a program to the information providing apparatus, and arelated information receiving portion to receive the related informationappropriate for a designated program from the information providingapparatus. The information providing apparatus includes a relatedinformation storage portion to store the related information composed ofa plurality of pieces of information to which each provision period issettable in association with a program, a designation informationreceiving portion to receive the designation information from theinformation receiving terminal, a related information extracting portionto extract the related information appropriate for a designated programfrom the related information storage portion, and a related informationtransmitting portion to transmit the extracted related information tothe information receiving terminal. At least one of the informationreceiving terminal and the information providing apparatus includes aninformation selecting portion to select information to which a provisionperiod corresponding to a provision time point of the relatedinformation is set from a plurality of pieces of informationconstituting the related information received by the informationreceiving terminal or the related information extracted by theinformation providing apparatus as information constituting the relatedinformation.

In this configuration, the information providing apparatus stores therelated information which is composed of a plurality of pieces ofinformation to which each provision period is settable in associationwith a program. The information receiving terminal transmits designationinformation designating a program to the information providingapparatus, and the information providing apparatus receives thedesignation information and extracts the related information which isappropriate for a designated program from the related informationstorage portion. The information providing apparatus transmits theextracted related information to the information receiving terminal, andthe information receiving terminal receives the transmitted relatedinformation. Further, the information receiving terminal or theinformation providing apparatus selects information to which a provisionperiod corresponding to a provision time point of the relatedinformation is set from a plurality of pieces of informationconstituting the related information which is received by theinformation receiving terminal or the related information which isextracted by the information providing apparatus as informationconstituting the related information. Because the information to whichthe provision period corresponding to the provision time point of therelated information is set is thereby selected, it is possible toprovide timely appropriate related information.

According to a second embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided an information receiving terminal for receiving a program,which is connected with an information providing apparatus for providingrelated information associated with a program through a communicationnetwork. The information receiving terminal includes a designationinformation transmitting portion to transmit designation informationdesignating a program to the information providing apparatus, a relatedinformation receiving portion to receive the related informationextracted to be appropriate for a designated program from relatedinformation composed of a plurality of pieces of information to whicheach provision period is settable and stored in association with aprogram from the information providing apparatus, and an informationselecting portion to select information to which a provision periodcorresponding to a provision time point of the related information isset from a plurality of pieces of information constituting the receivedrelated information as information constituting the related information.

In this configuration, the information receiving terminal transmitsdesignation information designating a program to the informationproviding apparatus. The information receiving terminal receives therelated information which is extracted to be appropriate for adesignated program from related information that is composed of aplurality of pieces of information to which each provision period issettable and stored in association with a program from the informationproviding apparatus. Then, the information receiving terminal selectsinformation to which a provision period corresponding to a provisiontime point of the related information is set from a plurality of piecesof information constituting the received related information asinformation constituting the related information. Because theinformation to which the provision period corresponding to the provisiontime point of the related information is set is thereby selected, a usercan browse timely appropriate related information.

In the above information receiving terminal, a program may be scheduledwith time, and the related information may contain information in whicheach provision period is set to a period of a program scheduled time anda period at least before or after a program scheduled time. In thisconfiguration, in the information which is contained in the relatedinformation, each provision period is set to a period of a programscheduled time and a period at least before or after a program scheduledtime. A user can thereby browse timely appropriate related informationaccording to a temporal relationship between a scheduled time of aprogram and a provision time point of the related information.

The above information receiving terminal may further include adisplay/playback portion to display/playback the received relatedinformation, and the related information may be composed of one or morescenario information in a scenario form so as to sequentiallydisplay/playback a plurality of pieces of information. Because therelated information is composed of one or more scenario information in ascenario form so as to sequentially display/playback a plurality ofpieces of information in this configuration, a user can efficientlybrowse information which is associated with a program.

According to a third embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided an information providing apparatus for providing relatedinformation associated with a program, which is connected with aninformation receiving terminal for receiving a program through acommunication network. The information providing apparatus includes arelated information storage portion to store the related informationcomposed of a plurality of pieces of information to which each provisionperiod is settable in association with a program, a designationinformation receiving portion to receive designation informationdesignating a program from the information receiving terminal, a relatedinformation extracting portion to extract the related informationappropriate for a designated program from the related informationstorage portion, an information selecting portion to select informationto which a provision period corresponding to a provision time point ofthe related information is set from a plurality of pieces of informationconstituting the extracted related information as informationconstituting the related information, and a related informationtransmitting portion to transmit the related information composed ofselected information to the information receiving terminal.

In this configuration, the information providing apparatus stores therelated information which is composed of a plurality of pieces ofinformation to which each provision period is settable in associationwith a program. The information providing apparatus receives designationinformation designating a program from the information receivingterminal and extracts the related information which is appropriate for aprogram that is designated by the designation information from therelated information storage portion. The information providing apparatusselects information to which a provision period corresponding to aprovision time point of the related information is set from a pluralityof pieces of information constituting the extracted related informationas information constituting the related information and transmits therelated information which is composed of selected information to theinformation receiving terminal. Because the information to which theprovision period corresponding to the provision time point of therelated information is set is thereby selected, a content provider canprovide timely appropriate related information.

In the above information providing apparatus, a program may be scheduledwith time, and the related information may contain information in whicheach provision period is set to a period of a program scheduled time anda period at least before or after a program scheduled time. In thisconfiguration, in the information which is contained in the relatedinformation, each provision period is set to a period of a programscheduled time and a period at least before or after a program scheduledtime. A content provider can thereby provide timely appropriate relatedinformation according to a temporal relationship between a scheduledtime of a program and a provision time point of the related information.

Further, the related information may be composed of one or more scenarioinformation in a scenario form so as to sequentially display/playback aplurality of pieces of information by the information receivingterminal. Because the related information is composed of one or morescenario information in a scenario form so as to sequentiallydisplay/playback a plurality of pieces of information in thisconfiguration, a content provider can effectively prompt a user tobrowse information which is associated with a program.

According to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided an information providing method which is applied to aninformation providing system where an information receiving terminal forreceiving a program and an information providing apparatus for providingrelated information associated with a program are connected through acommunication network. The information providing method includes thesteps of storing the related information composed of a plurality ofpieces of information to which each provision period is settable inassociation with a program in the information providing apparatus,extracting the related information appropriate for a program designatedby the information receiving terminal in the information providingapparatus, transmitting the extracted related information to theinformation receiving terminal from the information providing apparatus,and selecting information to which a provision period corresponding to aprovision time point of the related information is set from a pluralityof pieces of information constituting the related information receivedby the information receiving terminal or the related informationextracted by the information providing apparatus as informationconstituting the related information in the information receivingterminal or the information providing apparatus.

In this method, the related information which is composed of a pluralityof pieces of information to which each provision period is settable isstored in association with a program in the information providingapparatus. The related information which is appropriate for a programthat is designated by the information receiving terminal is extracted,and the extracted related information is transmitted to the informationreceiving terminal. Then, in the information receiving terminal or theinformation providing apparatus, information to which a provision periodcorresponding to a provision time point of the related information isset is selected from a plurality of pieces of information constitutingthe related information received by the information receiving terminalor the related information extracted by the information providingapparatus as information constituting the related information. Becausethe information to which the provision period corresponding to theprovision time point of the related information is set is therebyselected, it is possible to provide timely appropriate relatedinformation.

According to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a program which causes a computer to function as theinformation receiving terminal according to the second embodiment of thepresent invention.

According to a sixth embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a program which causes a computer to function as theinformation providing apparatus according to the third embodiment of thepresent invention.

According to a seventh embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided an information providing system where an information receivingterminal for receiving a program and an information providing apparatusfor providing related information associated with a program areconnected through a communication network. In the information providingsystem, the information receiving terminal includes a designationinformation transmitting portion to transmit designation informationdesignating a program to the information providing apparatus, and arelated information receiving portion to receive the related informationappropriate for a designated program from the information providingapparatus. The information providing apparatus includes a relatedinformation storage portion to store the related information composed ofa plurality of pieces of information to which each provision period issettable in association with a program, a designation informationreceiving portion to receive the designation information from theinformation receiving terminal, a related information extracting portionto extract the related information appropriate for a designated programfrom the related information storage portion, and a related informationtransmitting portion to transmit the extracted related information tothe information receiving terminal. Further, at least one of theinformation receiving terminal and the information providing apparatusincludes an information selecting portion to select information to whicha provision period corresponding to a provision time point of therelated information is set from a plurality of pieces of informationconstituting the related information received by the informationreceiving terminal or the related information extracted by theinformation providing apparatus as information constituting the relatedinformation, and an operation information generating portion to generateoperation information appropriate for function information specifying afunction of the information receiving terminal and a temporalrelationship between a scheduled time of a program and a provision timepoint of the related information for operation regarding the relatedinformation.

In this configuration, the information receiving terminal or theinformation providing apparatus generates operation information which isappropriate for function information specifying a function of theinformation receiving terminal and a temporal relationship between ascheduled time of a program and a provision time point of the relatedinformation for operation regarding the related information. Because theoperation information which is appropriate for a function of theinformation receiving terminal and a temporal relationship between ascheduled time of a program and a provision time point of the relatedinformation is generated in a fixed format, it is possible to providetimely appropriate operation information which corresponds to thefunction of the information receiving terminal.

According to an eighth embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided an information receiving terminal for receiving a program,which is connected with an information providing apparatus for providingrelated information associated with a program through a communicationnetwork. The information receiving terminal includes a designationinformation transmitting portion to transmit designation informationdesignating a program to the information providing apparatus, a relatedinformation receiving portion to receive the related informationextracted to be appropriate for a designated program from the relatedinformation composed of a plurality of pieces of information to whicheach provision period is settable and stored in association with aprogram from the information providing apparatus, an informationselecting portion to select information to which a provision periodcorresponding to a provision time point of the related information isset from a plurality of pieces of information constituting the receivedrelated information as information constituting the related information,and an operation information generating portion to generate operationinformation appropriate for function information specifying its ownfunction and a temporal relationship between a scheduled time of aprogram and a provision time point of the related information foroperation regarding the related information.

In this configuration, the information receiving terminal generatesoperation information which is appropriate for function informationspecifying its own function and a temporal relationship between ascheduled time of a program and a provision time point of the relatedinformation for operation regarding the related information. Because theoperation information which is appropriate for a function of theinformation receiving terminal and a temporal relationship between ascheduled time of a program and a provision time point of the relatedinformation is generated in a fixed format, a user can perform operationregarding the related information efficiently without the need forperforming complicated operation.

In the above information receiving terminal, a program may be scheduledwith time, and the related information may contain information in whicheach provision period is set to a period of a program scheduled time anda period at least before or after a program scheduled time. In thisconfiguration, in the information which is contained in the relatedinformation, each provision period is set to a period of a programscheduled time and a period at least before or after a program scheduledtime. A user can thereby perform operation regarding the relatedinformation efficiently based on appropriate operation informationaccording to the function of the information receiving terminal and thetemporal relationship between a scheduled time of a program and aprovision time point of the related information.

According to a ninth embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided an information providing apparatus for providing relatedinformation associated with a program, which is connected with aninformation receiving terminal for receiving a program through acommunication network. The information providing apparatus includes arelated information storage portion to store the related informationcomposed of a plurality of pieces of information to which each provisionperiod is settable in association with a program, a designationinformation receiving portion to receive designation informationdesignating a program from the information receiving terminal, a relatedinformation extracting portion to extract the related informationappropriate for a designated program from the related informationstorage portion, an information selecting portion to select informationto which a provision period corresponding to a provision time point ofthe related information is set from a plurality of pieces of informationconstituting the extracted related information as informationconstituting the related information, a related information transmittingportion to transmit the related information composed of selectedinformation to the information receiving terminal, a functioninformation receiving portion to receive function information specifyinga function of the information receiving terminal from the informationreceiving terminal, an operation information generating portion togenerate operation information appropriate for the received functioninformation and a temporal relationship between a scheduled time of aprogram and a provision time point of the related information foroperation regarding the related information, and an operationinformation transmitting portion to transmit the generated operationinformation to the information receiving terminal.

In this configuration, the information providing apparatus receivesfunction information specifying a function of the information receivingterminal from the information receiving terminal. Then, the informationproviding apparatus generates operation information which is appropriatefor the received function information and a temporal relationshipbetween a provision time of a program and a provision time point of therelated information for operation regarding the related information, andtransmits the generated operation information to the informationreceiving terminal. Because the operation information which isappropriate for a function of the information receiving terminal and atemporal relationship between a scheduled time of a program and aprovision time point of the related information is generated in a fixedformat, a content provider can prompt a user to perform operationregarding the related information efficiently.

In the above information providing apparatus, a program may be scheduledwith time, and the related information may contain information in whicheach provision period is set to a period of a program scheduled time anda period at least before or after a program scheduled time. In thisconfiguration, in the information which is contained in the relatedinformation, each provision period is set to a period of a programscheduled time and a period at least before or after a program scheduledtime. A content provider can thereby provide appropriate operationinformation to a user according to the function of the informationreceiving terminal and the temporal relationship between a scheduledtime of a program and a provision time point of the related information.

According to a tenth embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided an information providing method which is applied to aninformation providing system where an information receiving terminal forreceiving a program and an information providing apparatus for providingrelated information associated with a program are connected through acommunication network. The information providing method includes thesteps of storing the related information composed of a plurality ofpieces of information to which each provision period is settable inassociation with a program in the information providing apparatus,extracting the related information appropriate for a program designatedby the information receiving terminal in the information providingapparatus, transmitting the extracted related information to theinformation receiving terminal from the information providing apparatus,selecting information to which a provision period corresponding to aprovision time point of the related information is set from a pluralityof pieces of information constituting the related information receivedby the information receiving terminal or the related informationextracted by the information providing apparatus as informationconstituting the related information in the information receivingterminal or the information providing apparatus, and generatingoperation information appropriate for function information specifying afunction of the information receiving terminal and a temporalrelationship between a scheduled time of a program and a provision timepoint of the related information for operation regarding the relatedinformation in the information receiving terminal or the informationproviding apparatus.

In this method, in the information receiving terminal or the informationproviding apparatus, operation information which is appropriate forfunction information specifying a function of the information receivingterminal and a temporal relationship between a scheduled time of aprogram and a provision time point of the related information aregenerated for operation regarding the related information. Because theoperation information which is appropriate for a function of theinformation receiving terminal and a temporal relationship between ascheduled time of a program and a provision time point of the relatedinformation is generated in a fixed format, it is possible to providetimely appropriate operation information which corresponds to thefunction of the information receiving terminal.

According to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a program which causes a computer to function as theinformation receiving terminal according to the eighth embodiment of thepresent invention.

According to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a program which causes a computer to function as theinformation providing apparatus according to the ninth embodiment of thepresent invention.

According to the embodiments of the present invention described above,it is possible to provide an information providing system, aninformation receiving terminal, an information providing apparatus, aninformation providing method and program which are capable of providingrelated information of a program efficiently.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view conceptually showing the overallconfiguration of an information providing system according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing an example of the overallconfiguration model of an information providing system.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view conceptually showing an example of theconfiguration of a receiving terminal which is included in aninformation providing system.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view conceptually showing the functionalconfiguration of a receiving terminal.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing main elements of a receiving terminaland an ECG server.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing main elements of a receiving terminaland an ECG server according to an alternative example.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing an example of the structure of ECGdata which is contained in an ECG scenario.

FIG. 8A is an explanatory view showing an example of metadata (forprogram information) which constitutes an ECG scenario.

FIG. 8B is an explanatory view showing an example of metadata (forservice provision information) which constitutes an ECG scenario.

FIG. 8C is an explanatory view showing an example of metadata (forassociation information) which constitutes an ECG scenario.

FIG. 9A is an explanatory view showing an example of metadata (for ECGscenario) which constitutes an ECG scenario.

FIG. 9B is an explanatory view showing an example of metadata (for ECGset) which constitutes an ECG scenario.

FIG. 9C is an explanatory view showing an example of metadata (for ECGset) which constitutes an ECG scenario.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure to associate anECG scenario with a program.

FIG. 11 is a sequence chart showing a process flow from production toprovision of a program and an ECG scenario.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a process flow in the execution of an ECGscenario.

FIG. 13 is a sequence chart showing an example of a process flow of anECG scenario in an entire information providing system.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing an example of a channel selectionmenu which is displayed in a receiving terminal.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing the structure of an ECG scenarioaccording to provision date and time.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory view showing the structure of an ECG scenarioaccording to provision date and time.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory view showing an example of the display of anECG scenario.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory view showing an example of the display ofoperation information.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the appended drawings. Note that,in the specification and the appended drawings, structural elements thathave substantially the same function and structure are denoted with thesame reference numerals, and repeated explanation of these structuralelements is omitted.

(Overall Configuration of Information Providing System)

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view conceptually showing the overallconfiguration of an information providing system according to anembodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, theinformation providing system includes a receiving terminal 100(information receiving terminal) of a user and an electronic contentguide (ECG) server 200 (information providing apparatus).

The receiving terminal 100 receives video/audio information, databroadcast information and electronic program guide-service information(EPG-SI) which are related to a program through a receiving antenna 600or the like and provides the information to a user. In some cases, thereceiving terminal 100 provides prerecorded video/audio information to auser. Further, the receiving terminal 100 according to this embodimentcan receive the information related to a program from the ECG server 200which is connected through a communication network 500 and provide thereceived information to a user. The ECG server 200 registers and managesthe information which is related to a program as ECG data and providesthe registered and managed ECC data to the receiving terminal 100through the communication network 500.

A user of the receiving terminal 100 can select the information which isviewable or browsable (receivable), such as video/audio information,data broadcast information, EPG-SI information and ECG data that arerelated to a program, by operating a remote control 190 for thereceiving terminal 100, for example. On a display screen of thereceiving terminal 100, video information and ECG data which are relatedto a program are respectively displayed on the left and right sides ofthe display screen, for example, in the state where the ECG serviceprovision is active. In the following description, the expression“display of a program, ECG data and related information (ECG scenario)”includes the meaning “playback of a program and related information”.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing an example of the overallconfiguration model of an information providing system. Referring toFIG. 2, the information providing system includes the receiving terminal100, the ECG server 200, a content provider 300 and a sponsor 400.

The content provider 300 may include a TV station, a data broadcaststation, a program distribution agency and so on, for example. Thecontent provider 300 provides information related to a program anddetail information, which is described later, to the ECG server 200together with video/audio information, data broadcast information andEPG-SI information related to a program to the receiving terminal 100.The information related to a program includes program information(including still image information), scheduling information, groupinformation, supplemental information, program segment information andso on (which are collectively referred to hereinafter as programinformation).

The TV station operates a scheduling system 310, a material system 320,a right system 330 and so on which manage program information related toa program. The data broadcast station operates a program informationmanagement system which manages program information related to aprovided program that is provided by video-on-demand (VOD), nearvideo-on-demand (NVOD), download, IP broadcasting services or the like.The program distribution agency operates a program informationmanagement system 350 which manages program information (schedulinginformation) related to a distributed program.

The sponsor 400 may include an advertising agency, a sales agency, apayment agency and so on which provide advertising, sales and paymentservices, for example. In some cases, it may also include a contentprovider which provides video/audio information that is related to aprogram. The sponsor 400 provides service provision information relatedto a program which includes advertising information, sales information,payment information, program information and so on to the receivingterminal 100 through the ECG server 200.

The sponsor 400 operates different kinds of information processingsystem 410 according to business type such as advertising, sales orpayment system, a Web software development kit (SDK) 420, an Interface(I/F) system 430 and so on. The sponsor 400 provides advertisinginformation and sales information which introduce products or servicesthat are sold or provided by an advertiser of the sponsor 400 or thesponsor 400 itself, for example. If the sponsor 400 is a payment agency,the sponsor 400 provides payment information in the processing ofproduct purchase based on sales information. If the sponsor 400 is acontent provider, the sponsor 400 provides program information whichintroduces a program that is provided or distributed by the sponsor 400.

(Overall Configuration of Information Providing Apparatus)

The ECC server 200 (information providing apparatus) is operated by aninformation service provider or the like which produces, manages,provides and distributes information related to a program as ECG data.The ECG server 200 includes an ECG registration system 210, an ECGmanagement system 220, an ECG providing system 230, an ECG distributionsystem 240, an ECG operation management system 250, databases 260, andso on.

The ECC registration system 210 registers information related to aprogram (program information, service provision information etc.) whichis provided from the content provider 300 and the sponsor 400. Thedatabases 260 include a character database and a dictionary database,for example, and store detail information concerning program informationsuch as program scheduling, cast, genre, music and event related to aprogram.

The ECG management system 220 manages the program information and theservice provision information which are registered in the ECGregistration system 210 and the detail information which is stored inthe databases 260. The ECG management system 220 performs variousediting and processing on the program information, the service provisioninformation and the detail information. Particularly, the ECG managementsystem 220 produces information related to a program as ECG data andestablishes associations or set priorities among the ECG data, therebyediting a plurality of pieces of ECG data into an ECG scenario, asdescribed in detail later.

Further, the ECG management system 220 produces program listinginformation which contains scheduling information of a plurality ofprograms as ECG data by performing editing and processing on the programinformation. The information provided as the program listing informationwhich is produced as ECG data is not limited as electronic program guide(EPG) information of a related art, and the program listing informationmay contain information such as still images contained in programinformation, for example, in addition to information concerning aprovision time and an overview of a program. The program listinginformation is in conjunction with scheduling information, and it isupdated in real time according to a change in program scheduling or thelike.

The ECG providing system 230 provides the ECG data such as an ECGscenario and program listing information which are managed by the ECGmanagement system 220 to the receiving terminal 100 through the ECGdistribution system 240. In response to a request from the receivingterminal 100, the ECG distribution system 240 provides the ECG datawhich is provided from the ECG providing system 230 to the receivingterminal 100. The ECG operation management system 250 controls the ECGmanagement system 220 and the ECG providing system 230, thereby managingthe entire system operation of the ECG server 200.

In the ECG server 200, the ECG registration system 210, the ECGmanagement system 220 and the databases 260, for example, serve as anECG scenario storage portion 270 or the like, which is described later.The ECG providing system 230 serves as an ECG scenario extractingportion 274, an ECG data selecting portion 278, an operation informationgenerating portion 282 and so on, which are also described later. TheECG distribution system 240 serves as a designation informationreceiving portion 272, an ECG scenario transmitting portion 276, afunction information receiving portion 280, an operation informationtransmitting portion 284, a control portion 286 and so on, which arealso described later. Such a configuration is illustrated by an exampleonly, and the configuration of the ECG server 200 is not limited to theabove-described configuration.

(Configuration of Receiving Terminal)

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view conceptually showing the exemplaryconfiguration of a receiving terminal (information receiving terminal)which is included in an information providing system. Referring to FIG.3, the receiving terminal 100 may be a receiving terminal such as a TVterminal, a portable terminal or a mobile terminal, a set top box (STB),a CATV terminal, an internet protocol television (IPTV) terminal, apersonal video recorder (PVR), a personal computer (PC), a cellularphone or a personal digital assistant (PDA), for example.

The receiving terminal 100 receives programs which are provided throughvarious transmission lines, such as analog terrestrial broadcasting,digital terrestrial broadcasting, broadcast satellite (BS) analogbroadcasting, BS digital broadcasting, communication satellite (CS)124/128-degree broadcasting, CS 110-degree broadcasting, digital commonantenna television (CATV) broadcasting, analog CATV broadcasting andoptical fiber broadcasting, for example, through the receiving antenna600 or the like. Further, the receiving terminal 100 communicates withan external system and an external device through the communicationnetwork 500 which includes an optical fiber, asymmetric digitalsubscriber line (ADSL), a telephone modem or the like, for example.

The receiving terminal 100 may be operated using a remote control, akeyboard, a mouse and so on. A remote control 190 for the receivingterminal 100 may include a channel selection button for selecting thechannel of a program to be received, an up/down/left/right button, anenter button, a return button and so on, for example. A user of thereceiving terminal 100 can directly select the channel of a programwhich is currently viewable by operating the channel selection button.Alternatively, a user can select the channel of a selected program byselecting a desired program through the operation of theup/down/left/right button based on program listing information (channelselection menu) and then operating the enter button. Theup/down/left/right button, the enter button and the return button may beoperated in the same manner for the selection and determination ofvarious information, besides the program channel selection.

The remote control 190 may further include an EPC-SI information button,a data broadcast information button, an ECG service button and so on,for example. A user can obtain the provision of EPG-SI information anddata broadcast information from the content provider 300 by operatingthe EPG-SI information button and the data broadcast information button,respectively. A user can also obtain the provision of an ECG servicefrom the ECG server 200 by operating the ECG service button.

Although the operation method using the remote control 190 is describedabove, the operation method using a keyboard, a mouse or an operatingportion in the main body of the receiving terminal 100 is substantiallythe same as the operation method using the remote control 190, and adetailed description is omitted.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view conceptually showing the functionalconfiguration of a receiving terminal. Each functional block of thereceiving terminal 100 is controlled by a computer system which includesCPU or the like. A storage portion which is included in the receivingterminal 100 and/or a recording medium which is removable from thereceiving terminal 100 stores a program for causing each functionalblock to be functioning.

Referring to FIG. 4, the receiving terminal 100 includes a broadcastprocessing portion 110, an ECG software processing portion 120, adisplay/playback portion 150 and a device control portion 160. Thebroadcast processing portion 110 includes a video/audio informationreceipt and playback function 112, a data broadcast receipt and playbackfunction 114 and an EPG receipt and control function 116. The ECGsoftware processing portion 120 includes an ECG data acquisitionfunction 122, an ECG data browsing function 124 and an ECG dataprocessing function 126.

In the receiving terminal 100, with the function of the ECG dataacquisition function 122, the ECG software processing portion 120serves, in conjunction with the communication control portion 180, as adesignation information transmitting portion 130, an ECG scenarioreceiving portion 132, a function information transmitting portion 140,an operation information receiving portion 142 and so on, which aredescribed later. With the functions of the ECG data browsing function124 and the ECG data processing function 126, the ECG softwareprocessing portion 120 serves as an ECG data selecting portion 134, anoperation information generating portion 138, a control portion 146 andso on, which are also described later. The display/playback portion 150serves, in conjunction with the broadcast processing portion 110, theECG software processing portion 120, the device control portion 160 andso on, as a display/playback portion 136 or the like, which is describedlater. Further, the remote control 190 serves as an operation inputportion 144 or the like, which is described later. Such a configurationis illustrated by an example only, and the configuration of thereceiving terminal 100 is not limited to the above-describedconfiguration.

(Element of Receiving Terminal and ECG Server)

FIGS. 5 and 6 are block diagrams showing the main elements of theinformation providing system according to this embodiment. Theinformation providing system shown in FIG. 6 is an alternative exampleof the information providing system shown in FIG. 5.

The main elements of the information providing system shown in FIG. 5are described firstly. The receiving terminal 100 shown in FIG. 5includes a designation information transmitting portion 130, an ECGscenario receiving portion 132, an ECG data selecting portion 134, adisplay/playback portion 136, an operation information generatingportion 138, an operation input portion 144 and a control portion 146.

The designation information transmitting portion 130 transmitsdesignation information which designates a program to the ECG server200. The ECG scenario receiving portion 132 receives the ECG scenariowhich is extracted from ECG scenarios that are stored in associationwith a program so as to be appropriate for a designated program from theECG server 200. Each ECG scenario is composed of a plurality of piecesof ECG data to which each provision period is settable. The ECG dataselecting portion 134 selects the ECG data to which a provision periodcorresponding to a provision time point of an ECG scenario is set from aplurality of pieces of ECG data that constitute a received ECG scenarioas ECG data which constitutes an ECG scenario. The display/playbackportion 136 displays and plays back an ECG scenario, video/audioinformation of a program and so on. The operation information generatingportion 138 generates operation information which is appropriate forfunction information that specifies its own function and the temporalrelationship between a provision time of a program and a provision timepoint of an ECG scenario for the operation regarding an ECG scenario.The operation input portion 144 receives an operation input by a usersuch as designation of a program and operation regarding an ECGscenario. The control portion 146 controls the function of the entireelements of the receiving terminal 100 described above.

The ECG server 200 shown in FIG. 5 includes an ECG scenario storageportion 270, a designation information receiving portion 272, an ECGscenario extracting portion 274, an ECG scenario transmitting portion276 and a control portion 286.

The ECG scenario storage portion 270 stores an ECG scenario which iscomposed of a plurality of pieces of ECG data to which each provisionperiod is settable in association with a program. The designationinformation receiving portion 272 receives designation information fromthe receiving terminal 100, and the ECG scenario extracting portion 274extracts an ECG scenario which is appropriate for a designated programfrom the ECG scenario storage portion 270. The ECG scenario transmittingportion 276 transmits an extracted ECG scenario to the receivingterminal 100. The control portion 286 controls the function of theentire elements of the ECG server 200 described above.

The main elements of the information providing system shown in FIG. 6are described next. The elements which are identical to the mainelements of the information providing system shown in FIG. 5 are notrepeatedly described below. A receiving terminal 100′ shown in FIG. 6includes the designation information transmitting portion 130, the ECGscenario receiving portion 132, the display/playback portion 136, afunction information transmitting portion 140, an operation informationreceiving portion 142, the operation input portion 144 and the controlportion 146. The receiving terminal 100′ has the function informationtransmitting portion 140 and the operation information receiving portion142 in place of the ECG data selecting portion 134 and the operationinformation generating portion 138 which are the elements of thereceiving terminal 100 shown in FIG. 5.

The function information transmitting portion 140 transmits functioninformation which specifies its own function to an ECC server 200′ . Theoperation information receiving portion 142 receives operationinformation which is generated to be appropriate for its own functionand the temporal relationship between a provision time of a program anda provision time point of an ECG scenario from the ECG server 200′.

The ECG server 200′ shown in FIG. 6 includes the ECG scenario storageportion 270, the designation information receiving portion 272, the ECGscenario extracting portion 274, the ECG scenario transmitting portion276, the control portion 286, an ECG data selecting portion 278, afunction information receiving portion 280, an operation informationgenerating portion 282 and an operation information transmitting portion284. The ECG server 200′ has the ECG data selecting portion 278, thefunction information receiving portion 280, the operation informationgenerating portion 282 and the operation information transmittingportion 284 in addition to the elements of the ECG server 200 shown inFIG. 5.

The ECG data selecting portion 278 selects the ECG data to which aprovision period corresponding to a provision time point of an ECGscenario is set from a plurality of pieces of ECG data that constitutean extracted ECG scenario as ECG data which constitutes an ECG scenario.The function information receiving portion 280 receives functioninformation which specifies the function of the receiving terminal 100′from the receiving terminal 100′. The operation information generatingportion 282 generates operation information which is appropriate for thereceived function information and the temporal relationship between aprovision time of a program and a provision time point of an ECGscenario for the operation regarding an ECG scenario. The operationinformation transmitting portion 284 transmits the generated operationinformation to the receiving terminal 100′.

In the information providing system shown in FIG. 5, the selection ofECG data and the generation of operation information are performed inthe receiving terminal 100. On the other hand, in the informationproviding system shown in FIG. 6, the selection of ECG data and thegeneration of operation information are performed in the ECG server200′. In the information providing systems shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, thearrangement of the elements which have the functions regarding theselection of ECG data and the generation of operation information may bereplaced between the receiving terminal 100, 100′ and the ECG server200, 200′. For example, the selection of ECG data may be performed inthe receiving terminal 100, 100′, and the generation of operationinformation may be performed in the ECG server 200, 200′.

(Structure of ECG Scenario)

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing the exemplary structure of ECGdata which are contained in an ECG scenario. Referring to FIG. 7, an ECGscenario contains program information related to a program, serviceprovision information related to program information, and associationinformation which establishes association among a program, programinformation and service provision information. An ECG scenario is acollection of ECG sets, each set being a combination of each programinformation and service provision information associated with eachprogram information. The ECG set may be composed of program informationonly, without including service provision information. Further,priorities may be set to the ECG sets which constitute an ECG scenarioand to the program information and the service provision informationwhich constitutes each ECG set as described below.

In the ECG scenario which is illustrated in FIG. 7, the programinformation which are associated with the program A10 include “scheduleddate and time” 22, “performer A” 32, “drama” 42, “music A” 52, “event A”62, “program introduction A” 72, “feature A” 82 and “synopses A” 92. Theprogram information are classified into categories of schedulinginformation, cast, genre, music, event, program introduction, featureand synopses, respectively.

Further, the service provision information is associated with eachprogram information. For example, the service provision information“DVD” 34, “book” 36 and “goods” 38 are associated with the programinformation “performer A” 32. Thus, one ECG set 30 which includes theprogram information “performer A” 32 and the service provisioninformation “DVD” 34, “book” 36 and “goods” 38 is formed. Further, anECG scenario which is a collection of all or part of the ECG sets 20 to90 that respectively correspond to the program information is formed.

Priorities “(1)” to “(8)” are respectively set to the ECG sets 20 to 90which respectively correspond to the program information “scheduled dateand time” 22, “performer A” 32, “drama” 42, “music A” 52, “event A” 62,“program introduction A” 72, “feature A” 82 and “synopses A” 92.Further, priorities are also set to the program information and theservice provision information according to the priorities of the ECGsets. For example, priorities “3)”, “4)”, “5)” and “6)” are respectivelyset to the program information “performer A” 32 and the serviceprovision information “DVD” 34, “book” 36 and “goods” 38 which areassociated with the program information “performer A” 32.

Accordingly, in the execution of the ECG scenario, after the programinformation “performer A” 32 is displayed, the service provisioninformation “DVD” 34, “book” 36 and “goods” 38 which are associated withthe program information “performer A” 32 are sequentially displayed, andthen the program information “drama” 42 with the priority “7)” isdisplayed after that.

The ECG scenario contains program information and service provisioninformation and is associated with detail information concerning theprogram information and detail information concerning the serviceprovision information.

The detail information concerning program information includes detailinformation about program scheduling and cast, detail information aboutmusic and event related to a program and so on, for example. The detailinformation concerning service provision information includes, if it isthe service provision information about sales, information aboutpurchase and payment procedure, for example. If it is the serviceprovision information about advertising information, the detailinformation concerning the service provision information includes detailinformation of advertisement, for example. If it is the serviceprovision information about program information, the detail informationconcerning the service provision information includes information aboutrecording/viewing reservation of a program, for example.

The detail information concerning program information is provided fromthe ECG server 200 to the receiving terminal 100 in response to arequest of a user which is made while the relevant program informationis displayed. The detail information concerning service provisioninformation is provided from the sponsor 400 to the receiving terminal100 through the ECG server 200 in response to a request of a user whichis made while the relevant service provision information is displayed.The detail information concerning service provision information mayinclude information about processing such as purchase and paymentprocedure, questionnaire and recording/viewing reservation, for example,and prescribed processing is performed between a user and the sponsor400 through the receiving terminal 100 based on the information.

(Metadata of ECG Scenario)

FIGS. 8A to 8C and 9A to 9C are explanatory views showing examples ofmetadata which constitute an ECG scenario. FIGS. 8A to 8C and 9A to 9Cillustrate metadata of program information, service provisioninformation, association information for establishing association amonga program, program information and service provision information, an ECGscenario and an ECG set, respectively. The structures of an ECG scenarioand an ECG set are described in detail later using specific examples.

The metadata of program information shown in FIG. 8A contain descriptionof information such as a program genre, a keyword and a cast. In themetadata, “P00001”, “professional style”, “documentary”, “AAAAAA BBBBBBknow-how impression” are described as an program ID, a program name, agenre and a keyword, respectively. Further, “2007/7/10 22:00:00” and“2007/7/10 23:00:00” are described as the provision start date and timeand the provision end date and time of the program, respectively.Furthermore, the casts who appear on the program are described, and itis described for the cast with the person ID “1_1” that a name is“AAAAAA” and a birthplace is “Japan” , for example. In addition, “AA1”and “L00001” are described as an association ID (relation ID) for themetadata and a reference ID list for association information of theprogram, respectively.

The metadata of service provision information shown in FIG. 8B containsdescriptions of information such as a service provision informationgenre, a keyword, a place to obtain detail information and so on. In themetadata, “C00001”, “product 1”, “publication”, “XXX YYY ZZZ”, “zony”,“100 yen” and “www.zony.co.jp” are described as a service provisioninformation ID (content ID), a service provision information name, agenre, a keyword, a maker, a price, and a place to obtain detailinformation, respectively.

The metadata of association information for establishing associationamong a program, program information and service provision informationshown in FIG. 8C contains descriptions of information such as genres ofprogram information and service provision information to be associatedwith a program and so on. In the metadata, “L00001”, “HHH”, “2007/7/1022:00:00” and “2007/7/10 23:00:00” are described as a programassociation ID (program relation ID), a program association name, thestart date and time and the end date and time of association,respectively. Further, “1”, “P00001”, and “shopping” are described as aprogram ID to be associated (link program ID), a program ID and a genre,respectively. Furthermore, service provision information to beassociated are described, and it is described for the service provisioninformation with the service provision information ID (content ID) to beassociated (link content ID) “1” that a service provision information IDis “C00001” and a genre is “sport”.

The metadata of an ECG scenario shown in FIG. 9A contains descriptionsof information of ECG sets which constitute the ECG scenario. In themetadata, “sc00011”, “ECG scenario”, “2007/7/1 00:00:00” and “2007/7/2000:00:00”are described as an ECG scenario ID, an ECG scenario name, andthe provision start date and time and the provision end date and time(or a valid period) of the ECG scenario, respectively. In addition, itis described that the provision date and time of a program to which theECG scenario is associated is from 22:00 to 23:00 on 2007/7/10. Further,an ECG set 1 and an ECG set 2 which constitute an ECG scenario aredesignated, and it is described that an item ID (ecg set content ID) andan ECG set ID of the ECG data which constitute each ECG set are“ecg_set_c1” and “es00001” and “ecg_set_c2” and “es00002”, respectively.

The metadata of an ECG set shown in FIG. 9B contains descriptions ofinformation such as program information and service provisioninformation which constitute the ECG set 1 described above. In themetadata, “es00001”, “ECG set 1”, “2007/7/1 00:00:00” and “2007/7/2000:00:00” are described as an ECG set ID, an ECG set name, and theprovision start date and time and the provision end date and time (or avalid period) of the ECG set, respectively. Further, four pieces of ECGdata with the item ID (content ID) “c11”, “c12”, “c13” and “c14” whichconstitute the ECG set 1 are described. For example, it is described forthe ECG data with the item ID “c11” that a data type, a programinformation ID, provision start date and time and provision end date andtime are “program (program information)”, “P011”, “2007/7/1 00:00:00”and “2007/7/10 22:00:00”, respectively. On the other hand, it isdescribed for the ECG data with the item ID “c14” that a data type, aprogram information ID, provision start date and time and provision enddate and time are “product (product information)”, “C011 ”, “2007/7/100:00:00” and “2007/7/20 00:00:00”, respectively.

The provision start date and time and the provision end date and time ofthe ECG data with the item ID “c11”, “c12” and “c13” which correspond toprogram information are set to the period before the program provisiondate and time (22:00 to 23:00 on 2007/7/10), the period of the programprovision date and time (viewable period), and the period after theprogram provision date and time, respectively. On the other hand, theprovision start date and time and the provision end date and time of theECG data with the item ID “c14” which corresponds to service provisioninformation is set to the period before and after the program provisiondate and time including the program provision date and time. Thus, whenthe ECG scenario which contains the ECG set 1 is executed, the ECG datawith the item ID “c11”, “c12” and “c13” are displayed as programinformation sequentially in the period before the program provision dateand time, the period of the program provision date and time, and theperiod after the program provision date and time. On the other hand, theECG data with the item ID “c14” is displayed as service provisioninformation in the period before and after the program provision dateand time including the program provision date and time.

The metadata of an ECG set shown in FIG. 9C contains descriptions ofinformation such as program information and service provisioninformation which constitute the ECG set 2 described above. In themetadata, three pieces of ECG data with the item ID “c21”, “c22” and“c23” which constitute the ECG set 2 are described.

The provision start date and time and the provision end date and time ofthe ECG data with the item ID “c21” and “c22” which correspond toprogram information are set to the period from a point before theprogram provision date and time (22:00 to 23:00 on 2007/7/10) to theprogram provision date and time (viewable period), and the period afterthe program provision date and time, respectively. On the other hand,the provision start date and time and the provision end date and time ofthe ECG data with the item ID “c23” which corresponds to serviceprovision information is set to the period before and after the programprovision date and time including the program provision date and time.Thus, when the ECG scenario which contains the ECG set 2 is executed,the ECG data with the item ID “c21” and “c22” are displayed as programinformation sequentially in the period from a point before the programprovision date and time to the provision date and time, and the periodafter the program provision date and time. On the other hand, the ECGdata with the item ID “c23” is displayed as service provisioninformation in the period before and after the program provision dateand time including the program provision date and time.

Alternatively, the provision start date and time and the provisionperiod may be set rather than setting the provision start date and timeand the provision end date and time of each ECG data. Further, whetheror not to display (provide) each ECG data may be set in each of theperiod before the program provision date and time, the period of theprogram provision date and time, and the period after the programprovision date and time.

(Establishment of Association Between Program and ECG Scenario)

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure to associatean ECG scenario with a program.

Referring to FIG. 10, when associating related information (ECGscenario) with a program, it is determined whether to set an ECGscenario which contains program-dependent information (S10). If it isdetermined to set such an ECG scenario, the ECG scenario which containsprogram-dependent information is associated with the program (S12). Onthe other hand, if it is determined not to set such an ECG scenario, itis further determined whether to set an ECG scenario which containsprogram-independent information (S14). If it is determined to set suchan ECG scenario, the ECG scenario which contains program-independentinformation is associated with the program (S16). On the other hand, ifit is determined not to set such an ECG scenario, an ECG scenario whichcontains prescribed information such as a name and a logotype for thecontent provider 300, for example, is set (S18).

The program-dependent information is information which is directlyrelated to a program, which is ECG data as shown in FIG. 7, for example.On the other hand, the program-independent information is informationwhich is not directly related to a program, which is ECG data such as aprogram that is scheduled to be provided, VOD content that is notdependent on program scheduling, information related to a program thatis recommended by the content provider 300 or information different froma program that is provided from the content provider 300, for example.

If an ECG scenario which contains program-independent information isassociated with a program, the following advantages are expected. Forexample, if ECG data which is related to a program that is scheduled tobe provided is associated, the content provider 300 can prompt a user toview the program, and a user can easily make recording reservation orviewing reservation of the program. Further, if ECG data which isrelated to a VOD content that is not dependent on program scheduling isassociated, the content provider 300 can prompt a user to view thecontent, and a user can easily purchase and view the content. Aplurality of ECG scenarios may be associated with a program, andpriorities may be set to the ECG scenarios in such a case.

FIG. 11 is a sequence chart showing the flow from the production to theprovision of a program and an ECG scenario.

Referring to FIG. 11, a program producing portion such as the contentprovider 300 produces a program and instructs an ECG data producingportion to produce related information (ECG scenario) (S20). The ECGdata producing portion, which is a part of the ECC server 200, producesan ECC scenario based on the instruction from the program producingportion and then instructs an ECG meta distributing portion to associatethe ECG scenario with the program (S22). The ECG meta distributingportion, which is also a part of the ECG server 200, makes setting toprovide the ECG scenario in association with the program. Then, the ECGmeta distributing portion provides the ECG scenario which is associatedwith the program to a user (S24) in addition to providing the programfrom the program producing portion (content provider 300) (S26).

(Process Flow of ECC Scenario)

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a process flow in the execution of an ECGscenario.

Prior to the execution of related information (ECG scenario), theprovision of an ECG service is activated through the operation of thereceiving terminal 100 by a user (S30). After the provision of an ECGservice is activated, the ECG scenario which is associated with aselected channel or program is acquired from the ECG server 200 (S32).After the ECG scenario is acquired, the acquired ECG scenario isexecuted, and the program information and the service provisioninformation which constitute the ECG scenario are sequentially displayedin units of ECG sets according to the priorities that are set thereto(S34). After the display of all the ECG sets which constitute the ECGscenario is completed (S38), the display of the ECG scenario is repeatedaccording to the priorities (S40).

To each piece of ECG data which is contained in the ECG set, a provisionperiod (provision start date and time and provision end date and time)is settable. In the display of the ECG scenario (S34), the ECG data(program information, service provision information) to which aprovision period corresponding to provision date and time is selectedand displayed. Alternatively, the ECG data to which a provision periodcorresponding to provision date and time may be selected and displayedin the acquisition of the ECG scenario (S32).

If a user finds interested information in the displayed programinformation and service provision information, the user performsdetermination operation (S36). When the determination operation isperformed, the processing for the display of the detail informationconcerning the program information and the service provision informationor the provision of services concerning the service provisioninformation is performed according to the program information and theservice provision information which are displayed at the time when thedetermination operation is performed (S42). In the processing of programinformation and service provision information (S42), appropriateoperation information is generated and displayed according to functioninformation which specifies the function of the receiving terminal 100.

During the execution of an ECG scenario, if an interrupt event such asremote control operation not related to the execution of the ECGscenario or update/change of program listing information occurs (S44),the execution of the ECG scenario is terminated or suspended (S46), andthe interrupt event is executed (S48).

(Process Flow of Related Information)

FIG. 13 is a sequence chart showing an example of the process flow of anECG scenario in the information providing system as a whole.

A user selects a currently viewable program by remote control operationor the like (S50). When a program is selected, the receiving terminal100 transmits designation information which designates the selectedprogram and function information which specifies the function of thereceiving terminal 100 to the ECG server 200 (S52). The ECG server 200extracts the ECG scenario (related information) of the relevant programbased on the designation information, generates operation informationcorresponding to the function of the receiving terminal 100 based on thefunction information, and transmits the ECG scenario and the operationinformation to the receiving terminal 100 (S54). Then, the receivingterminal 100 receives and displays the video information of the program,the ECC scenario and the operation information, thereby providing thevideo information of the program and the ECG scenario regarding thecurrently viewable program together with the operation informationcorresponding to the function of the receiving terminal 100 to a user(S56).

A user may select a program which is scheduled to be provided in thetime period that is later than the currently viewable program, forexample (S58). When the program which is scheduled to be provided in thelater time period is selected, the same processing as when the currentlyviewable program is selected is performed between the receiving terminal100 and the ECG server 200 (S60, S62). Then, the receiving terminal 100receives and displays the ECG scenario and the operation information,thereby providing the ECG scenario regarding the program which isscheduled to be provided in the later time period together with theoperation information corresponding to the function of the receivingterminal 100 to a user (S64). If a provision period corresponding to theprovision time point of an ECG scenario is set as the provision periodof ECG data which is contained in the ECG scenario regarding the programscheduled to be provided in the later time period, the ECG data to whichthe period that is earlier than the provision date and time of theprogram is set is displayed.

As for the ECG scenario, the ECG data to which a provision periodcorresponding to a provision date and time is set is selected anddisplayed during the display by the receiving terminal 100 in the stepS56, S64. Alternatively, for the ECG scenario, the ECG data to which aprovision period corresponding to a provision date and time is set maybe selected and provided during the transmission by the ECG server 200in the step S54, S62.

The operation information may be generated in the receiving terminal 100rather than in the ECG server 200. In this case, the receiving terminal100 transmits designation information in the step S52, S60, and the ECGserver 200 transmits an ECC scenario in the step S54, S62. Then, in thestep S56, S64, the receiving terminal 100 generates operationinformation based on function information which specifies its ownfunction and displays video information of a program and an ECG scenariotogether with the generated operation information.

When a user wishes to make recording reservation of a program which isscheduled to be provided in the later time period, the user selectsrecording reservation processing which is contained in the operationinformation (S66). When the recording reservation processing isselected, the receiving terminal 100 performs recording reservationprocessing based on the program information of the program scheduled tobe provided in the later time period which is contained in the ECGscenario and provides reservation information for verification to theuser (S68).

When a user wishes to purchase a product which is contained in serviceprovision information, the user selects product purchase processing(S70). When the product purchase processing is requested, the receivingterminal 100 requests the sponsor 400 serving as a sales agency toperform the product purchase processing (S72) and acquires a result ofthe product purchase processing from the sponsor 400 (S74). Thereceiving terminal 100 transmits and receives information about arequest for the product purchase processing and information about aresult of the product purchase processing between the user and thesponsor 400 (S70 to S76). The product purchase processing is therebyperformed between the user and the sponsor 400.

During the product purchase processing or the like, processing whichdoes not accept the operation that is not related to the productpurchase processing may be performed in the period from the start to theend of the processing, for example, in order to avoid interruption ofthe processing due to wrong operation by a user.

(Specific Description of ECG Scenario Providing Method)

A method of providing related information (ECG scenario) which ischaracteristic to this embodiment is described hereinafter using aspecific example. FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing an example of achannel selection menu which is displayed in a receiving terminal. FIGS.15 and 16 are explanatory views showing the structure of an ECG scenarioaccording to provision date and time. FIG. 17 is an explanatory viewshowing an example of the display of an ECG scenario. FIG. 18 is anexplanatory view showing an example of the display of operationinformation.

In the receiving terminal 100, a channel selection menu as shown in FIG.14 is executed and displayed upon startup or the like. In the centralpart of the channel selection menu, functional icons 902 for selectingavailable functions are displayed in a single horizontal row, andcontent icons 904 for selecting available contents for each function aredisplayed in a single vertical line, intersecting with the functionalicons 902. The point of the intersection of the functional icon row andthe content icon line is fixed to a predetermined position on thedisplay screen.

The available functions may include playback of audio information,playback of video information, viewing of a terrestrial broadcastprogram, viewing of a satellite broadcast program, viewing of a cablebroadcast program, viewing of an external input program, use of Internetand so on. The available contents may include various channels of TVstations which provide terrestrial broadcasting for a terrestrialbroadcast program viewing function, for example.

A user can smoothly select the function and the content to use byhorizontally scrolling the display of the functional icons 902 andvertically scrolling the display of the content icons 904 using theup/down/left/right button of the remote control 190, for example.

In the example shown in FIG. 14, the functional icon which indicates theviewing of a terrestrial broadcast program is selected, and the programof the channel “041” is selected as one of available contents by acursor frame 906. On the right side of the cursor frame 906, a displayframe 908 which indicates the name of the currently viewable program inthe relevant channel is displayed. In the lower right of the cursorframe 906, a basic information display frame 910 which displays basicinformation of a program (program name, category, broadcast stationname, scheduled broadcast date and time, cast, overview summary etc.)and an ECG scenario display frame 912 which displays an ECG scenario aredisplayed.

The name of the currently viewable program, the basic information andthe ECG scenario may be switched appropriately according to theselection operation of the function and the content. Specifically,designation information which designates a selected content (program) istransmitted to the ECG server 200, and then the program information, theECG scenario and so on which correspond to the designated program aretransmitted to the receiving terminal 100 and displayed.

In the ECG server 200, related information (ECG scenario) is stored inassociation with a time-scheduled program as shown in FIG. 15, forexample. In the example of FIG. 15, programs A1, A2 and A3 are scheduledfor 21:00 to 22:00, 22:00 to 23:00 and 23:00 to 24:00 on 2007/7/10,respectively, as programs of a channel A. To each program, an ECGscenario which is composed of an ECG set 1 and an ECG set 2 isassociated. When the program A2 is selected during the provision periodof the program A2 (22:00 to 23:00), the ECG scenario composed of the ECGset 1 and the ECG set 2 which contain the ECG data concerning theprogram A2 is transmitted to the receiving terminal 100 and displayed.Likewise, when the program A1 is selected during the provision period ofthe program A1 and when the program A3 is selected during the provisionperiod of the program A3, the ECG scenario which is associated with theselected program is transmitted to the receiving terminal 100 anddisplayed in the same manner.

Below the display frames 910 and 912, an operation information displayframe 914 which displays operation information for prompting a user tooperate the remote control 190 is displayed. In the example of FIG. 14,“Red: channel selection & ECG scenario; Green: ECG scenario ofsubsequent program; Yellow: ECG scenario of current program; Blue: ECGscenario of previous program” is displayed as the operation information.“Red”, “Green”, “Yellow” and “Blue” which are displayed as the operationinformation indicate selection buttons which are included in the remotecontrol 190.

If the “Red” button is selected in this state, the execution and displayof the channel selection menu is interrupted for channel selection andECG scenario execution, and the video information of the selectedprogram is displayed and the execution of the ECG scenario related tothe selected program is started. If the “Green” button is selected,basic information is displayed in the basic information display frame910 and an ECG scenario is displayed in the ECG scenario display frame912 concerning the program which is scheduled to be provided in the timeperiod that is later than the selected currently viewable program (whichis also referred to hereinafter as the subsequent program). Further, ifthe “Green” button is selected repeatedly, basic information and an ECGscenario concerning the second program, the third program, . . . then-th program after the currently viewable program may be displayed.Furthermore, if the “Green” button is selected (pressed) for apredetermined period of time, basic information and an ECG scenarioconcerning the program after 24 hours, the program after 48 hours and soon may be displayed. In the case where the “Yellow” button and the“Blue” button are selected, basic information and an ECG scenarioconcerning the selected program and the program which has been providedin the time period that is earlier than the selected program (which isalso referred to hereinafter as the previous program), respectively, aredisplayed just like the case where the “Green” button is selected.

The basic information and the ECG scenario which are displayed in thedisplay frames 910 and 912 may be switched appropriately according tothe selection of operation information. Specifically, when the Red,Green, Yellow or Blue button is selected, designation information whichdesignates the selected program is transmitted to the ECG server 200,and then the basic information and the ECG scenario which correspond tothe designated program are transmitted to the receiving terminal 100 anddisplayed. If a provision period is set to each ECG data, the ECG datato which the provision period corresponding to the provision date andtime of the ECG scenario is set is selected and displayed during thedisplay of the ECG scenario.

Related information (ECG scenario) has a structure that allows display(provision) of different ECG data according to the provision date andtime of an ECG scenario as shown in FIG. 16, for example. In the exampleof FIG. 16, different ECG data is displayed (provided) in each of theperiod (1) where the provision date and time of the ECG scenario isbefore the provision date and time of the program A2, the period (2) ofthe provision date and time (viewable period), and the period (3) afterthe provision date and time. The structure of the ECG scenario which isshown in FIG. 16 corresponds to the metadata of the ECG scenario and theECG set shown in FIGS. 9A to 9C.

For example, as for the ECG set 1, program information 3 (the item ID“c11” shown in FIGS. 9B or 9C), program information 1 (the item ID“c12”) and program information 4 (the item ID “c13”) are displayed asprogram information in the period (1) where the provision date and timeof the ECG scenario is before the provision date and time of the programA2 (22:00 to 23:00), the period (2) of the provision date and time, andthe period (3) after the provision date and time, respectively.Likewise, as for the ECG set 2, program information 2 (the item ID“c21”), program information 2 (the item ID “c21”) and programinformation 5 (the item ID “c22”) are displayed as program informationin the same manner. The ECG sets 1 and 2 display sales information 1(the item ID “c14”) and sales information 2 (the item ID “c23”)regardless of the provision date and time of the ECG scenario.

In the period (1) which is before the provision date and time of theprogram A2, the program information 3 that introduces the programscheduled to be provided and the program information 2 regarding theperformer A of the program are displayed, for example, by the executionof the ECG scenario. It is thereby possible to prompt a user to view theprogram which is scheduled to be provided. The program information 2corresponds to the ECG data whose provision period is set to the periodbefore the provision date and time of the program A2 in the ECG data“program introduction A” which constitutes the ECG set 70 shown in FIG.7, for example.

In the period (2) which is the provision date and time of the programA2, the program information 1 regarding the feature A of the program andthe program information 2 regarding the performer A of the program aredisplayed, for example, by the execution of the ECG scenario. It isthereby possible to prompt a user to view the program which is currentlyprovided. The program information 1 corresponds to the ECG data whoseprovision period is set to the period of the provision date and time ofthe program A2 in the ECG data “feature A” which constitutes the ECG set80 shown in FIG. 7, for example.

In the period (3) which is after the provision date and time of theprogram A2, the program information 4 regarding the synopses of theprovided program and the program information 5 that introduces theprogram scheduled to be provided next time are displayed, for example,by the execution of the ECG scenario. It is thereby possible to prompt auser to view the program which is scheduled to be provided next time.The program information 4 corresponds to the ECG data whose provisionperiod is set to the period after the provision date and time of theprogram A2 in the ECG data “synopses A” which constitutes the ECG set 90shown in FIG. 7, for example. The program information 5 corresponds tothe ECG data whose provision period is set to the period after theprovision date and time of the program A2 in the ECG data “programintroduction A” which constitutes the ECG set 70 shown in FIG. 7, forexample.

Related information (ECG scenario) is displayed together with differentoperation information according to the provision date and time of theECG scenario and the function of the receiving terminal 100 as shown nFIG. 17, for example. As described later, the operation information isgenerated in a fixed format regardless of the content provider 300 thatprovides a program by the receiving terminal 100 or the ECG server 200based on the function information which specifies the function of thereceiving terminal 100.

In the example of FIG. 17, the program information 3 and 2 are displayedtogether with the operation information “recording reservation” and“return” at the time point before the provision date and time of theprogram A2 (“subsequent program”). The operation information “recordingreservation” is displayed only when the receiving terminal 100 hasrecording function. A user can make recording reservation of the programA2 by selecting the operation information “recording reservation”. Atthe time point of the provision date and time of the program A2(“current program”), the program information 1 and 2 are displayedtogether with the operation information “return”. At the time pointafter the provision date and time of the program A2 (“previousprogram”), the program information 4 and 5 are displayed together withthe operation information “recording reservation” and “return”. A usercan make recording reservation of a program regarding the program A2which is scheduled to be provided next time (e.g. in the case of programin series) by selecting the operation information “recordingreservation”. The operation information “return” is used to return tothe display of the previous operation screen.

As for service provision information, the sales information 1 and 2 aredisplayed together with the operation information “purchase” and“return” regardless of the provision date and time of the ECG scenario.The operation information “purchase” is displayed only when thereceiving terminal 100 has payment function. If the receiving terminal100 does not have payment function, the operation information “temporarysaving” for temporarily saving the relevant sales information may bedisplayed. A user can thereby perform purchase processing of therelevant product smoothly.

FIG. 18 shows an example of operation information which is displayedtogether with an ECG scenario. Referring to FIG. 18, as for programinformation, “recording reservation” or the like is displayed asoperation information at the time of browsing program information at thetime point before the provision date and time of a program (“subsequentprogram”). Alternatively, “viewing reservation” for performing viewingreservation may be displayed as operation information. Further, in thecase of a pay program, “viewing reservation” or the like is displayed asoperation information at the time of purchasing the program. At the timepoint of the provision date and time of a program (“current program”),in the case of a pay program, “viewing” or the like is displayed asoperation information at the time of purchasing the program. At the timepoint after the provision date and time of a program (“previousprogram”), “recording reservation” or the like is displayed as operationinformation at the time of browsing program information. Further,“viewing reservation” for making viewing reservation of a programregarding the relevant program which is scheduled to be provided nexttime or “recorded program playback” for performing playback when aprogram is recorded may be displayed as operation information. In thecase of a pay program, “viewing” or the like is displayed as operationinformation at the time of purchasing the program.

As for service provision information, “purchase”, “temporary saving” andso on are displayed as operation information at the time of browsingsales information in the period between before and after the provisiondate and time of a program. At the time of browsing advertisinginformation, “browsing verification” or the like is displayed asoperation information in order to verify that the advertisinginformation is browsed for the purpose of questionnaire aboutadvertisement browsing or the like.

As described in the foregoing, according to the information providingsystem of this embodiment, the ECG server 200 stores an ECG scenariowhich is composed of a plurality of pieces of ECG data to which eachprovision period is settable in association with a program. Thereceiving terminal 100 transmits designation information whichdesignates a program to the ECG server 200, and the ECG server 200receives the designation information and extracts an ECG scenario whichcorresponds to the designated program. The ECG server 200 transmits theextracted ECG scenario to the receiving terminal 100, and the receivingterminal 100 receives the transmitted ECC scenario. Then, the receivingterminal 100 or the ECG server 200 selects the ECG data to which aprovision period corresponding to the provision time point of the ECGscenario is set from a plurality of pieces of ECG data that constitutethe received or extracted ECG scenario as ECG data which constitutes theECG scenario. The ECG data to which a provision period corresponding tothe provision time point of the ECG scenario is set is thereby selected,so that a timely appropriate ECG scenario is provided.

The receiving terminal 100 or the ECG server 200 generates operationinformation which is appropriate for the function information thatspecifies the function of the receiving terminal 100 and the temporalrelationship between the provision time of a program and the provisiontime point of an ECG scenario for the operation regarding an ECOscenario. The operation information which is appropriate for thefunction of the receiving terminal 100 and the temporal relationshipbetween the scheduled time of a program and the provision time point ofan ECG scenario is thereby generated in a fixed format, so that timelyappropriate operation information which is correspond to the function ofthe receiving terminal 100 is provided.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the provision periodof ECG data is set to the provision period (viewable period) of aprogram and the period adjacent before and after the provision period isdescribed. However, the provision period of ECG data may be set to theperiod which is different form the period adjacent before and after theprogram provision period. It is thereby possible to provide more timelyappropriate information by changing the content of information whichintroduces a program according to a difference in period between theprovision period of a program and the provision period of ECG data, forexample.

Further, the priorities when displaying ECG data may be changed so as tocorrespond to the setting of the provision period of ECG data. It isthereby possible to provide more timely appropriate information bypreferentially displaying information which introduces a program in theperiod before the provision period of a program according to theprovision period of ECG data, for example.

In the above-described embodiment, the case of selecting a program anddisplaying an ECG scenario regarding the selected program on a channelselection menu is described. However, the present invention is notlimited thereto, and selection or display may be made while viewing aprogram rather than making selection or display on a channel selectionmenu.

1. An information providing system where an information receivingterminal for receiving a program and an information providing apparatusfor providing related information associated with a program areconnected through a communication network, wherein the informationreceiving terminal includes: a designation information transmittingportion to transmit designation information designating a program to theinformation providing apparatus; and a related information receivingportion to receive the related information appropriate for a designatedprogram from the information providing apparatus, the informationproviding apparatus includes: a related information storage portion tostore the related information composed of a plurality of pieces ofinformation to which each provision period is settable in associationwith a program; a designation information receiving portion to receivethe designation information from the information receiving terminal; arelated information extracting portion to extract the relatedinformation appropriate for a designated program from the relatedinformation storage portion; and a related information transmittingportion to transmit the extracted related information to the informationreceiving terminal, and at least one of the information receivingterminal and the information providing apparatus includes: aninformation selecting portion to select information to which a provisionperiod corresponding to a provision time point of the relatedinformation is set from a plurality of pieces of informationconstituting the related information received by the informationreceiving terminal or the related information extracted by theinformation providing apparatus as information constituting the relatedinformation.
 2. An information receiving terminal for receiving aprogram, connected with an information providing apparatus for providingrelated information associated with a program through a communicationnetwork, comprising: a designation information transmitting portion totransmit designation information designating a program to theinformation providing apparatus; a related information receiving portionto receive the related information extracted to be appropriate for adesignated program from related information composed of a plurality ofpieces of information to which each provision period is settable andstored in association with a program from the information providingapparatus; and an information selecting portion to select information towhich a provision period corresponding to a provision time point of therelated information is set from a plurality of pieces of informationconstituting the received related information as informationconstituting the related information.
 3. The information receivingterminal according to claim 2, wherein a program is scheduled with time,and the related information contains information in which each provisionperiod is set to a period of a program scheduled time and a period atleast before or after a program scheduled time.
 4. The informationreceiving terminal according to claim 3, further comprising: adisplay/playback portion to display/playback the received relatedinformation, wherein the related information is composed of one or morescenario information in a scenario form so as to sequentiallydisplay/playback a plurality of pieces of information.
 5. An informationproviding apparatus for providing related information associated with aprogram, connected with an information receiving terminal for receivinga program through a communication network, comprising: a relatedinformation storage portion to store the related information composed ofa plurality of pieces of information to which each provision period issettable in association with a program; a designation informationreceiving portion to receive designation information designating aprogram from the information receiving terminal; a related informationextracting portion to extract the related information appropriate for adesignated program from the related information storage portion; aninformation selecting portion to select information to which a provisionperiod corresponding to a provision time point of the relatedinformation is set from a plurality of pieces of informationconstituting the extracted related information as informationconstituting the related information; and a related informationtransmitting portion to transmit the related information composed ofselected information to the information receiving terminal.
 6. Theinformation providing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a programis scheduled with time, and the related information contains informationin which each provision period is set to a period of a program scheduledtime and a period at least before or after a program scheduled time. 7.The information providing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein therelated information is composed of one or more scenario information in ascenario form so as to sequentially display/playback a plurality ofpieces of information by the information receiving terminal.
 8. Aninformation providing method applied to an information providing systemwhere an information receiving terminal for receiving a program and aninformation providing apparatus for providing related informationassociated with a program are connected through a communication network,comprising the steps of: storing the related information composed of aplurality of pieces of information to which each provision period issettable in association with a program in the information providingapparatus; extracting the related information appropriate for a programdesignated by the information receiving terminal in the informationproviding apparatus; transmitting the extracted related information tothe information receiving terminal from the information providingapparatus; and selecting information to which a provision periodcorresponding to a provision time point of the related information isset from a plurality of pieces of information constituting the relatedinformation received by the information receiving terminal or therelated information extracted by the information providing apparatus asinformation constituting the related information in the informationreceiving terminal or the information providing apparatus.
 9. A programapplied to an information receiving terminal for receiving a programincluded in an information providing system where the informationreceiving terminal and an information providing apparatus for providingrelated information associated with a program are connected through acommunication network, the program causing a computer to implementfunctions comprising: a designation information transmitting means totransmit designation information designating a program to theinformation providing apparatus; a related information receiving meansto receive the related information extracted to be appropriate for adesignated program from the related information composed of a pluralityof pieces of information to which each provision period is settable andstored in association with a program from the information providingapparatus; and an information selecting means to select information towhich a provision period corresponding to a provision time point of therelated information is set from a plurality of pieces of informationconstituting the received related information as informationconstituting the related information.
 10. A program applied to aninformation providing apparatus for providing related informationassociated with a program included in an information providing systemwhere an information receiving terminal for receiving a program and theinformation providing apparatus are connected through a communicationnetwork, the program causing a computer to implement functionscomprising: a related information storage means to store the relatedinformation composed of a plurality of pieces of information to whicheach provision period is settable in association with a program; adesignation information receiving means to receive designationinformation designating a program from the information receivingterminal; a related information extracting means to extract the relatedinformation appropriate for a designated program from the relatedinformation storage means; an information selecting means to selectinformation to which a provision period corresponding to a provisiontime point of the related information is set from a plurality of piecesof information constituting the extracted related information asinformation constituting the related information; and a relatedinformation transmitting means to transmit the related informationcomposed of selected information to the information receiving terminal.11. An information providing system where an information receivingterminal for receiving a program and an information providing apparatusfor providing related information associated with a program areconnected through a communication network, wherein the informationreceiving terminal includes: a designation information transmittingportion to transmit designation information designating a program to theinformation providing apparatus; and a related information receivingportion to receive the related information appropriate for a designatedprogram from the information providing apparatus, the informationproviding apparatus includes: a related information storage portion tostore the related information composed of a plurality of pieces ofinformation to which each provision period is settable in associationwith a program; a designation information receiving portion to receivethe designation information from the information receiving terminal; arelated information extracting portion to extract the relatedinformation appropriate for a designated program from the relatedinformation storage portion; and a related information transmittingportion to transmit the extracted related information to the informationreceiving terminal, and at least one of the information receivingterminal and the information providing apparatus includes: aninformation selecting portion to select information to which a provisionperiod corresponding to a provision time point of the relatedinformation is set from a plurality of pieces of informationconstituting the related information received by the informationreceiving terminal or the related information extracted by theinformation providing apparatus as information constituting the relatedinformation; and an operation information generating portion to generateoperation information appropriate for function information specifying afunction of the information receiving terminal and a temporalrelationship between a scheduled time of a program and a provision timepoint of the related information for operation regarding the relatedinformation.
 12. An information receiving terminal for receiving aprogram, connected with an information providing apparatus for providingrelated information associated with a program through a communicationnetwork, comprising: a designation information transmitting portion totransmit designation information designating a program to theinformation providing apparatus; a related information receiving portionto receive the related information extracted to be appropriate for adesignated program from the related information composed of a pluralityof pieces of information to which each provision period is settable andstored in association with a program from the information providingapparatus; an information selecting portion to select information towhich a provision period corresponding to a provision time point of therelated information is set from a plurality of pieces of informationconstituting the received related information as informationconstituting the related information; and an operation informationgenerating portion to generate operation information appropriate forfunction information specifying its own function and a temporalrelationship between a scheduled time of a program and a provision timepoint of the related information for operation regarding the relatedinformation.
 13. The information receiving terminal according to claim12, wherein a program is scheduled with time, and the relatedinformation contains information in which each provision period is setto a period of a program scheduled time and a period at least before orafter a program scheduled time.
 14. An information providing apparatusfor providing related information associated with a program, connectedwith an information receiving terminal for receiving a program through acommunication network, comprising: a related information storage portionto store the related information composed of a plurality of pieces ofinformation to which each provision period is settable in associationwith a program; a designation information receiving portion to receivedesignation information designating a program from the informationreceiving terminal; a related information extracting portion to extractthe related information appropriate for a designated program from therelated information storage portion; an information selecting portion toselect information to which a provision period corresponding to aprovision time point of the related information is set from a pluralityof pieces of information constituting the extracted related informationas information constituting the related information; a relatedinformation transmitting portion to transmit the related informationcomposed of selected information to the information receiving terminal;a function information receiving portion to receive function informationspecifying a function of the information receiving terminal from theinformation receiving terminal; an operation information generatingportion to generate operation information appropriate for the receivedfunction information and a temporal relationship between a scheduledtime of a program and a provision time point of the related informationfor operation regarding the related information; and an operationinformation transmitting portion to transmit the generated operationinformation to the information receiving terminal.
 15. The informationreceiving terminal according to claim 14, wherein a program is scheduledwith time, and the related information contains information in whicheach provision period is set to a period of a program scheduled time anda period at least before or after a program scheduled time.
 16. Aninformation providing method applied to an information providing systemwhere an information receiving terminal for receiving a program and aninformation providing apparatus for providing related informationassociated with a program are connected through a communication network,comprising the steps of: storing the related information composed of aplurality of pieces of information to which each provision period issettable in association with a program in the information providingapparatus; extracting the related information appropriate for a programdesignated by the information receiving terminal in the informationproviding apparatus; transmitting the extracted related information tothe information receiving terminal from the information providingapparatus; selecting information to which a provision periodcorresponding to a provision time point of the related information isset from a plurality of pieces of information constituting the relatedinformation received by the information receiving terminal or therelated information extracted by the information providing apparatus asinformation constituting the related information in the informationreceiving terminal or the information providing apparatus; andgenerating operation information appropriate for function informationspecifying a function of the information receiving terminal and atemporal relationship between a scheduled time of a program and aprovision time point of the related information for operation regardingthe related information in the information receiving terminal or theinformation providing apparatus.
 17. A program applied to an informationreceiving terminal for receiving a program included in an informationproviding system where the information receiving terminal and aninformation providing apparatus for providing related informationassociated with a program are connected through a communication network,the program causing a computer to implement functions comprising: adesignation information transmitting means to transmit designationinformation designating a program to the information providingapparatus; a related information receiving means to receive the relatedinformation extracted to be appropriate for a designated program fromthe related information composed of a plurality of pieces of informationto which each provision period is settable and stored in associationwith a program from the information providing apparatus; an informationselecting means to select information to which a provision periodcorresponding to a provision time point of the related information isset from a plurality of pieces of information constituting the receivedrelated information as information constituting the related information;and an operation information generating means to generate operationinformation appropriate for function information specifying its ownfunction and a temporal relationship between a scheduled time of aprogram and a provision time point of the related information foroperation regarding the related information.
 18. A program applied to aninformation providing apparatus for providing related informationassociated with a program included in an information providing systemwhere an information receiving terminal for receiving a program and theinformation providing apparatus are connected through a communicationnetwork, the program causing a computer to implement functionscomprising: a related information storage means to store the relatedinformation composed of a plurality of pieces of information to whicheach provision period is settable in association with a program; adesignation information receiving means to receive designationinformation designating a program from the information receivingterminal; a related information extracting means to extract the relatedinformation appropriate for a designated program from the relatedinformation storage means; an information selecting means to selectinformation to which a provision period corresponding to a provisiontime point of the related information is set from a plurality of piecesof information constituting the extracted related information asinformation constituting the related information; a related informationtransmitting means to transmit the related information composed ofselected information to the information receiving terminal; a functioninformation receiving means to receive function information specifying afunction of the information receiving terminal from the informationreceiving terminal; an operation information generating means togenerate operation information appropriate for the received functioninformation and a temporal relationship between a scheduled time of aprogram and a provision time point of the related information foroperation regarding the related information; and an operationinformation transmitting means to transmit the generated operationinformation to the information receiving terminal.